Coupeville Sports

Corinne Gaddis, the early years. (Photo courtesy Ellen Christensen)

   Gaddis (right), modern day, with sisters Hannah Christensen (left) and Brandy Moe.

With dad Jack at a Mariners game.

If there’s a special glow in the sky this morning, it’s because the Earth knows what’s up — today a legend was born.

Corinne Gaddis was one of the best athletes to ever cruise through the hallways at Coupeville High School.

Pick a sport, any sport and she would kick your butt at it, while beaming one of the greatest smiles to ever grace Cow Town.

How good was she?

When Gaddis graduated, the town got together and, realizing no one was ever going to match her awesomeness, went and tore the whole school down and built a new one just to give those who followed her a chance at a fresh start.

True story.

But once she was done blazing around the track oval at CHS (back when the Wolves could still host home track meets) and dropping the hammer on the basketball court, Gaddis didn’t stop being awesome.

She went on to graduate from Washington State University and is now a teacher and athletic trainer at Tahoma High School.

Corinne is following in the footsteps of mom and step-dad Ellen and Erik Christensen, teachers of great renown at Oak Harbor High School.

Undoubtedly she is making the duo, and her dad, Jack Gaddis, even prouder of her every day.

The bright, brilliant ball of fire that captivated Coupeville is now out in the real world, spreading knowledge and joy to a new generation.

The kid who hung out at Videoville (in the brief moments when she wasn’t busy with book learnin’ and athletic conquests) is 26 today.

While I haven’t seen Corinne in person in a while, I have no doubt she remains as effervescent and sweet-natured as she was as a teen.

I’m confident in this because I have never, ever seen a photo of her where her sunny smile didn’t pour out of the frame and envelop the universe in a virtual hug.

Corinne Gaddis has always been one of those truly special people whose mere presence makes those around her happier.

Brilliant. Amazing. Genuine.

She’s all that, and so much more.

Happy birthday, Miss Gaddis. May your smile continue to light the world for a very long time.